Walter l



Patented June 6, |899. W. L. SMITH.

FILE.

(Application med July 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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Nrrr; STATES' PATENT FFICE.

VALTER L. SMITH, OF GAR'WIN, IOVA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,- TO CHARLES lV. BLESSING AND F. A. GILLETTE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent No. 626,508, dated June 6, 1899.

Application filed J'uly 11, 1898. Serial No. 685,690. (N0 model.)

To alt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gar- Win, in the county of Tama and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement'in Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tiles, or, more specitically,to devices and arrangements whereby a series or set of file boxes or receptacles may be associated together in a case or cabinet, so that the individual receptacles can be easily withdrawn and the whole will be practically dust-proof. There are other advantages, as hereinafter described, which result from the use of my invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is an elevation of a case or cabinet provided with the receptacles. Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough on line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the receptacles, the normal condition being shown in full lines and the compressed or collapsed condition being shown in dotted lines in an exaggerated Inanner. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the case with the receptacles removed, showing the removable shelves and uprights by means of which the receptacles are supported. Fig. 5 is a View of one of the uprights when made of a length greater than the height of the receptacles.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in all the figures.

A is the outside of the case or cabinet, preferably of wood.

B B are a series of shelves. Uprights C are preferably placed between the shelves, so as to separate the receptacles and divide the cabinet into compartments, as it were. Both shelves and uprights are made of such length or width as to iit snugly in the cabinet, the

shelves being of the same size as the cross-v section of the inside of the cabinet and the uprights being of the same depth as the cabinet and of a height just a triiie greater than the height of the receptacles.

E E are the receptacles. Turning to Fig. 3, where one of these receptacles is shown in elevation, F F are the collapsible sides, G the bottom, and II the back. The back and bottomare of relatively rigid flat un yieldiu g substances.

I is the front end of the box or receptacle. It is round, as indicated, is preferably formed of leather, and is flexible or collapsible. The top of the box or receptacle is open. The construction is such that the forward portion of the receptacle can be compressed or collapsed, the outer end and sides connected therewith being easily pressed together. I lay no stress upon the materials out of which these several parts are made, though the receptacle may be made of heavy cardboard, the front or outer end being preferably leather bound or covered. This forward end may be properly lettered, and the receptacle may contain envelops and may be lettered on the sides, so as to indicate the contents. These being inatters which would vary with the use of the articles, I do not deem it necessary to further illustrate them.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: It will be readily seen by looking at Figs. lv and 2 and bearing in mind that the inner or back end of each receptacle and the bottom of each receptacle is preferably flat and rigid that when all of the receptacles are in position and the c'ase or cabinet is full any given receptacle can be easily and instantly withdrawn by forcing the thumb and finger on opposite sides of the same and between it and the next adjacent receptacle, as indicated in Fig. 3. Inasmuch as all of the receptacles are thus collapsible or flexible, as it were, toward the forward end and this results from the combination of the open top, flexible sides, and flexible front end, it is evident that when the finger or thumb is thrust in between any two receptacles they will readily separate, because they are all thus iiexible or capable of yielding and giving, so that Without any difficulty or any special effort to direct lthe hand and without any possible dangerof injury to the hand the thumb and finger may thus be thrust in between and any given receptacle be easily withdrawn. As soon as it is restored to place, the parts being all springy, as it were, return to their normal position, and the cabinet has the appearance' of being and in fact is fully filled, its shelves IOO being all closely occupied. Thus there is no opportunity for circulation of air or for dust to get in. With this arrangement the upright pieces may be moved about at will, and the shelves of course may be raised or lowered to accommodate taller receptacles and upright pieces. In other Words, the Whole device becomes very capable of adjustment. All these parts-the shelves, the uprights, and the receptacles-are interchangeable.

I claiml 1. A receptacle for cabinet-files, consisting of a box-like body open at the top and provided With collapsible sides and a exible outer rounded end, substantially as shown and described.

2. A le-cabinet, comprisinga set of shelves Witnesses:

DONALD M. CARTER, HOMER L. KRAFT. 

